The Brookfield native who now lives in Phoenix won $50,000 and a spot as a finalist in the Frito-Lay Do Us a Flavor contest last week.

"It's just something you don't ever think will happen to you," Abu-Judom said.

Her rival flavor contestants are a Wisconsin woman who came up with cheesy garlic bread chips and an Illinois man who submitted the idea for a spicy sriracha flavor, a hot sauce from Thailand.

Couple dozen submissions

She submitted more than 30 ideas, some less exotic, like basil, cucumber yogurt and spicy calamari.

"My nephew told me about the contest," Abu-Judom said. "I just started submitting combinations of things that I like to eat. I was having a ball."

But chicken and waffles was the winning pitch.

"My family loves chicken and waffles, so that's why I dedicated that combination to them," Abu-Judom said. "I stole a bite of my nephew's waffle once and he wouldn't let me live it down."

She said she videotaped telling her family the news.

"When I sat them down, they thought I was going to tell them I was pregnant," Abu-Judom laughed. "When I told them the news they were so excited, screaming and everything."

Elmbrook ties

Abu-Judom grew up in Brookfield. She graduated from Brookfield East High School.

"I'm a Spartans girl at heart," she said. "I was so fortunate to grow up in Brookfield."

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Abu-Judom worked for the Girl Scouts of Milwaukee for five years before moving to Phoenix.

Abu-Judom's and the other finalists' creations already are on store shelves.

When the chips fall, she hopes to take the $1 million prize with her.

How to vote

Votes are counted on three platforms: Lay's Facebook page at Facebook.com/Lays; Twitter, by using hashtag #SaveGarlicBread, #SaveChickenWaffles or #SaveSriracha; or by texting "VOTE" to 24477.

Voting ends May 4.

The grand-prize winner wins $1 million or one percent of their chip's 2013 net sales, whichever is greater.

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